Strat Tremolo Problem

[Uncle]

Hi. I got a problem with my Strat tremolo and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to resolve it. My guitar is an MIM Standard Strat with a 6 screw trem. It is set to be non-floating. Whenever I use the trem or do big bends that are one and a half steps or over, the bridge does not return to rest on the body. You can see a slight gap between the bridge and body. The strings always wind up being about 20-30 cents flat.

I thought maybe the cause was the 6 mounting screws for the bridge. I tightened the 2 outside screws just til the point the bridge started to tip forward then I loosened the screws by a quarter turn. The middle 4 screws are set fairly high. This setup works on a cheap strat copy I have but not on my Fender.

Hope you guys can help me out. Thanks in advance!

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Strat Tremolo Problem

Hi. I got a problem with my Strat tremolo and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how to resolve it. My guitar is an MIM Standard Strat with a 6 screw trem. It is set to be non-floating. Whenever I use the trem or do big bends that are one and a half steps or over, the bridge does not return to rest on the body. You can see a slight gap between the bridge and body. The strings always wind up being about 20-30 cents flat.

I thought maybe the cause was the 6 mounting screws for the bridge. I tightened the 2 outside screws just til the point the bridge started to tip forward then I loosened the screws by a quarter turn. The middle 4 screws are set fairly high. This setup works on a cheap strat copy I have but not on my Fender.

Hope you guys can help me out. Thanks in advance!

hmm.... it's getting caught up somewhere.... without seeing a guitar in my hands i am little help i guess.... Sure the outside screws for the trem are not too tight? This may sound nuts but-Could the strings be getting caught in the nut and holding it sharp?

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Strat Tremolo Problem

I'm taking another wild guess and sugguest you put some light oil on the 6 screws where they touch and move on the bridge.... a small amount on each....

Another wild guess-Could the wood the screws are anchored in be giving a bit and causing the screws to be on an angle.... i hear if the screws are not perfectly straight they can cause tuning issues

I worked on a cheap porfile strat once and the wood under the strat trems pivot point was dented in so baddly the bridge rocked funny when used.... plus the cheap metal was flexing under the string tention and would never sit flush...

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Strat Tremolo Problem

Here's something easy, easy, easy to do....and it will keep your guitar in tune...as long as you don't need/want to uptrem...just downtrem for vibrato.

Take the back cover off, and tighten the 2 trem screws in the claw until the back of the bridge rests on the guitar. Now do some double stop or big string bends. Does the tail of the bridge pull up slightly off the guitar body? If so, tighten the screws ever so slightly again until you can do bends without raising the bridge off the body. Now you should be able to use your trem in the downward motion for vibrato without too much difficulty, and yet when you release your trem, it should go back to the zero point, because it is effectivly blocked by the body.

I set up all my vintage style trems this way, and they really stay in tune much better. A graphite nut will help further, but for now some pencil lead in your string slots should do the trick.

However, if you want to uptrem as well...forget everything I just said!

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Strat Tremolo Problem

Here's something easy, easy, easy to do....and it will keep your guitar in tune...as long as you don't need/want to uptrem...just downtrem for vibrato.

Take the back cover off, and tighten the 2 trem screws in the claw until the back of the bridge rests on the guitar. Now do some double stop or big string bends. Does the tail of the bridge pull up slightly off the guitar body? If so, tighten the screws ever so slightly again until you can do bends without raising the bridge off the body. Now you should be able to use your trem in the downward motion for vibrato without too much difficulty, and yet when you release your trem, it should go back to the zero point, because it is effectivly blocked by the body.

I set up all my vintage style trems this way, and they really stay in tune much better. A graphite nut will help further, but for now some pencil lead in your string slots should do the trick.

However, if you want to uptrem as well...forget everything I just said!

you may of missed the problem this guy is having... He has it set flush but the bridge is sticking up a little after large bends and trem use... It does not return to the body flush

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Strat Tremolo Problem

Your right....I did miss that. Sounds like strings binding in the nut, or the screws on the bridge not being in the right position. Sorry for the quick read thru the first time.